Monday, September 24, 2012

How To Build A Model Rocket - Make A Skill Level One Kit

This article will describe how to build a model rocket kit.
Follow the photos below as we make the Gnome Skill Level One Rocket
in steps from laying out the parts to final assembly.

Rocket building and flying is a popular activity for schools, scouts, and
children’s organizations such as 4-H. Lessons learned from rocket building
include how to plan, start and finish a project, organization of tools and
parts, model building skills, and how to use tools. Rocketry can also introduce kids to the exciting world of space technology. Rockets are also lots of fun, which is the main reason for building and flying them.
A good first rocket for individuals or groups is the Gnome from Estes. It
is an E2X kit which needs no painting or complex gluing. It is available in
economical bulk packs for group building.

A minimum of tools are needed for rocket building and include:

Scissors
Hobby knife
Pencil
Plastic Cement - model glue
Masking Tape

The first step in building the rocket is to lay all the parts out on the
work surface in front of you, identify them from the plans and make sure
they are all there. Using the plan as a guide, organize the parts in the
order in which you will be using them.

Tools needed for rocket building

E2X Rocket Kit - The Gnome

Parts Of The Rocket Gnome

Nose Cone Parts

Nose Cone Assembly

Marking The Tube Step 1

Marking The Tube Step 2

Cutting The Tube

Rocket Fin Assembly

Installing The Engine Hook

Engine Hook Installed

Shock Cord Step 1

Shock Cord Step 2

Shock Cord Step 3

Shock Cord Step 4

Shock Cord Nose Cone Assembly

Streamer Step 1

Streamer Step 2

Streamer Step 3

Streamer Step 4

Decal

Putting On The Decal

Finished rocket

The general steps for rocket construction are outlined below:

Glue the nose cone assembly together

Mark body tube for fins using a door frame as a guide

Install the fin unit on the body tube - use the line you drew in the last
step to properly align the unit

Install engine hook.

The Gnome uses a streamer recovery system to slow down it’s descent

The shock cord/streamer is installed in the next step - cord glued inside
the body tube - the shock cord is an elastic cord

The streamer is taped to the shock cord

Streamer is rolled up and pushed into body tube - install nose cone.

Decal the rocket - its ready to fly!

The Gnome takes about an hour to build and will fly to 200 feet. It can be
launched from a baseball field with a 1/2A3-4T engine. Launch using
instruction from an earlier column.

After building this one, you are ready to build and fly many other of the
many kinds of rockets available in the hobby shop. An earlier column
outlined many of these exciting and colorful rockets.